Gelling back in the frame

Phil Wilkinson

Anthony Gelling is ready to pick up where he left off and retake his place as Super League’s leading centre, according to Shaun Wane.

The Kiwi centre is set to return to the Warriors side on Thursday night after a three-game absence with a knee injury.

And Wane is keen to unleash him on Huddersfield – revealing he has had to hold the 25-year-old back until he was fully-fit to play. He said: “Gells has been the best centre in the competition bar none, he’s training the house down and he’s ready to go.

“He wants to play. Even the week before the Wakefield game when we were struggling, he was putting his hand up to play, even though he wasn’t ready.

“But I like people like that – we’ve had to hold him back.

“He just wants to play and we’ve missed him.”

Wane says the players have recovered from a virus which hit the squad more than a week ago. Ben Flower is also likely to return to the squad this week as their injury woes show signs of easing.

Sean O’Loughlin and Dom Manfedi may be available for the following week’s game against Warrington, with Liam Farrell also close to a return.

And there is encouraging signs that both George Williams and Sam Tomkins will be in the mix soon.

England halfback Williams ran yesterday for the first time since suffering a back injury, while marquee signing Tomkins is on course to be back in action next month.

Prop Dom Crosby – who played his first game in six months last Friday – has a knee injury but is expected to be fit to face the Giants.

Wane has no disciplinary problems to worry about from their gutsy 26-12 victory over Castleford.

Wigan’s home game against Hull FC on Friday, May 13 will now be screened by Sky Sports.

It means the Warriors will be on TV for five successive Super League rounds, starting with Thursday’s home match against Huddersfield.

Wigan legend Billy Boston is one of the first two inductees into the Wales Rugby League official Hall of Fame.

Gus Risman is also included.

Both are already in the RFL’s Hall of Fame and were immortalised on the recently-unveiled rugby league statue outside Wembley Stadium.

Boston will be honoured at a celebration dinner next Monday, April 25 at the Village Hotel Chester St David’s in North Wales.